Mineral concentrator and process



p 30, 1930. A. MOLANDER 1,777,147

MINERAL CONCENTRATOR AND PROCESS Filed Feb. 14. 1925 4 Sheets-Shet 1 INVENTOR.

BY 9M 6. fiwe n/ MINERAL CONCENTRATOF. AND FRQCESS l4, lZi-YE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb.

if Ti" GER E1 Sept. 30, 1930. A. MOLANDER 1,777,147

MINERAL CONCENTRATOR AND PROCESS Filed Feb. 14, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 40 was .4 TIOBNEY Sept. 30, 1930. MQLANDER 1,777,147

MINERAL GONCENTRATOR AND PROCESS Filed Feb. 14, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet. 4

IJYVE'NTOR.

WgQM MMQU Ma i/4% Patented Sept. 30, 1930 1 UNITED STATES ALFRED MQLANDER, or sr. PAUL, MINNESOTA MINERAL OONCENTRATQB AND PROCESS Application filed February 14, 1925. Serial No. 9,081.

My invention relates to mineral concentrators, and involves a series of precipitating actions and the use of steam, compressed air, certain oil formulas and'water. The object 6 is to separate the finer mineral particles from any mass of ore and to further separate the waste materials from the ore in such manner as to reduce the waste and thereby increase the percentage of mineral content. This will be readily understood 'for example in the handling of iron ore where the percentage of iron compared to thepercentage of so called waste such, as rock, sand etc., must be comparatively high or up to certain standards before it is acceptable at the smelters. The process I have will be further understood from the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is an end elevation. of the preferred 2 form of my concentrator machine, with the exterior drivi means'omitted, the major part of the en wall omitted to expose the main mechanisms.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the ore receiving container in the upper part of the machine, some details being omitted.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation longitudig ally of the machine about as on line 3-3 in Fig. 4 is'an enlarged top or plan view of an end portion of one of the top plates 74 in 1 and Fig. 5 is an end elevation of said p ate.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional elevation,

as on line 66 of Fig. 2, of the bafile bar 23 used under the feed hopper 19.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical fragmentary section near one end of any of the three pairs of rollers 49 and adjacent parts, about as on line '7-7 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is an end elevation of the concen trator showing mainly the various drivin means operated from a main drive shaft, an also different pipe lines required. Fig. 9 is a detail elevation about as on line 99 in Fig. 7 I

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of one corner of a vibrating screen mounted below each feed hopper 19, about as on line 10--10 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of'the structure shown in Fig. 10.

"I have illustrated a form of my device embodying the preferred construction in which there are two horizontally spaced, elevated feed hoppers below each of which the materials go through a certain step in the process and after this step has taken place another step in the process takes place followed by a third step in the lower central part of the co machine with material fed in'from below the mechanisms under the receivin hoppers.

Referring to the drawings y reference numerals, the main frame comprises at each end two pairs of uprights 15R and 15L the top ends of which are suitably connected by horizontal end bars 16 and side bars 17. 18

in Fig. 1 is an end wall covering the u per part of the frame between each pair 0 uprights and may be extended across the entire end of the frame as in Fig. 8 excepting of course necessary outlets and apertures hereinafter described. In Fig. 1 the near wall 18 is omitted from the left hand upper part and the entire lower end to expose the mechanisms it being understood that the mechanism in the upper right hand part is the same as that shown to the left and the products from both these mechanical units pass down through the lower central mechanism in the final step of the process.

19 are the downwardly slopin walls of the feed hoppers, the lower ends 0 said walls being fixed 1n horizontal spaced relation to provide an outlet which may be closed by a gate valve 21 (Fig. 1). Within the hop er and adjacent its outlet I provide a rotata 1e shaft 22 provided with radial fingers (Fig. 1) to facilitate an even feeding of ore out of the hop or from where it drops upon a baflle bar 23 "ed longitudinally under said slot of the hopper. Said bar 23 is designed to form a series of alined'sections of triangular form,

and longitudinally thereof. This screen is of 1 elongated, flattened prism form the quadrangular end of which is seen in Fig. 1 and its ong side in Fig. 3, the latter showing more clearly the link suspension and an eccentric I which reciprocates the rod 26, links 25 and also extendin the entire screen 24 to provide a horizontal vibratory movement of the latter. The screen itself comprises a series of sets of bars 24A arranged transversely in spaced relation and each said bar being preferably of isosceles triangle form in cross section (see Fig. 10). The entire screen is immersed in water in a container, presently to be described, and the ore dropped upon its top layer of bars immediately is subject to an upward impelling force caused by the angular faces of the bars 24A between which bars its heavier particles gradually drop through the screen.

The first step in the treatment of ore will now be described, there being three distinct steps all tcid. It may be assumed that sulhide copper is to be put through the process. 1: will be understood that in this first step of the process the fine metal particles are re-- covered first and the coarser metal and rock particles are separated from the non metal bearin and finer rock, the latter being passed off in t is step of the process, as follows:

In the upper portion of each column of my machine is a container just below.the feed hopper and comprising elongated side walls 46A, a hopper bottom 46 the lowest central part of the latter having a downwardly tapering outlet 46B terminating adjacent the contacting parts of two rubber faced rollers 49 (see Fi s. 1 and 7). 31 are two troughs one at eac side and adjacent the walls 46, across the ends of the container (Fig. 2 i 28 are two cold water pipes letting in water one at each side in the upper parts of walls 46A and 47 is a longitudinally arranged water pipe in the lower central part of the container and having outlets (not shown) in its upper side to eject water upwardly in the container, all three said water pipes coacting to keep the container full and the overflow passingout through the troughs 31 and their outlets 32 (Fig. 2). Below the screen 24 I suspend another screen 33 preferably wider and deeper than screen 24 and is suspended by links 34 adapted to be reciprocated in the sarne manner as screen24 by suitable means'such as an eccentric rod 35 pivotally connected with one of the links 34 and its eccentric 35A operated b a counter- 36 rotatably mounted in bearings 37 on-the outside of the frame (Figs. 1, 3 and 8). The shafts 27 and 36 are identical, one at each end of the machine, each extending horizontally across the upper end of the frame and connected with the respective screen shaker rods 26 or The shaft 22 within each hopper 19 extends beyond the end walls and carries a sprocket 38 in mesh with a worm 39 on shaft 27-36 for rotating shaft 22 (Fig. 8). Shafts 27 and 36 are each rotated by means of a pinion 40 meshing with a gear 41suitably mounted on a shaft 42 carrying also another (bevel) gear 43 rotated by a large bevel gear 44 on the main drive shaft 45 (Fig. 8) suitably mounted longitudinally in the upper central part of the machine and operatively connected to any suitable source of power (not shown).

The rubber faced contacting rollers 49 are mounted on horizontal shafts 50 the ends, of which extend through walls 18 and carry rotating means. These rollers are in con stant frictional contact directly under the outlet 46B of the container and rotate inwardly and downwardly as indicated by arrews 51 (Figs. 1, 3 and 7). 52 are supplementary rollers each on a shaft 53 and preferably made of brass, the lower side of each contacting with the upper face part of a roiler 49 andthe upper side of each roller rotates in a semi-circular sleeve or bearing 46C formed integral with and on the lower side of the hopper bottom 46. The lower edges of the outlets 46B are permanently fixed adjacent the rubber rollers (see Fig. 7) 77 is a preferably brass plate or gasket on the inner side of wall 18, and the ends of the rollers 49 and 52 are made smooth to contact against said gasket. tight seal between said gaskets and the adj a centinwardly directed faces of tiie rollers 49 and 52. I

. Between the screens 24 and 33 I mount a suitable pipe frame comprising two longitudinal feed pipes 29 connected by a number of transversely arranged pipes 29B perfo' rated as at 29A upwardly (see Fig. 1).

charged upwardly in the container where 1 the oil vaporizes and causes instant formation of bubbles on the surface of the water for a purpose presently to be described.

In this first step of the process material is dropped from the hopper striking the baflle bar 22 and is distributed onto the vibrating screen 24. A large percentage of metal and rock will, because of its weight, precipitate downwardly through both screens 24 and 33 and be discharged between the rollers 49..

The other percentageof materials will, because of its lighter weight, be held in suspension by the upwardl impelling contact of the slanting surfaces of the upper screen bars thus forcing the ore particles toward the surface. The effect of the rapidly vibrating screen and the upwardly rushing steam, oil vapor and compressed air from pipes 2913 Thus is formed a water charges the surface water with a mass of bubbles or foam which trap the metal particles. moves upwardly and outwardly being guided or directed by the outside surfaces of the hopper walls 19 and said foam is removed by any suitable means (not shown). The waste or rock particles held in suspension by theupper screen are gradually moved or forced toward the sides, by the fresher materials coming up, into the unvibrated zone on each side of the screen Where the water flowing in from pipes 28 carries said waste toward the ends of the hopper and is carried over the top edge of the walls 46A into the trough 81 as an overflow particularly at the ends of the hopper as indicated by arrows TV in Fig. 3. If the lower screen is regulated to correct vibrating speed any waste which may have come through screen 24 will be held in suspension and grad-' ually directed to the overflow as at W in Fig. 3, whereas the heavier particles precipitate through screen 33 to the rollers, it being understood that the upwardly directed currents of water from pipe 47 are not strong enough to prevent this latter precipitation of materials to the rollers.

54 is a horizontally disposed vertically adjustable,'wedge sha ed (in cross section) bar between thelower a jacent edges of the outlet 46B and the vertical adj ustmentof which regulates the feeding of ore between the rollers from the container. These rollers 49 are preferably faced with a soft but tough pump rubber about one inch thick. The resilient nature of the rubber and the close contact of the rollers makes it practical to pass fine material, or what may be termed the solids fed down from the container, downwardly and discharge from thence to the mechanism involved in the second step of my process. At the same time that the solids are thus discharged the Water-is squeezed back making it possible to operate what I call the second flotation step in the process in practically clear water.

The wedge bar 54 is'suspended by vertical end members 54A each having a horizontal outwardly directed tongue 54B extending through a vertical slot 55 in the end wall and said tongue is engaged by vertically adjustable screws 56 in brackets 57 on the end wall and adapted to engage tongue 54B, one above and one below, for vertical adjustment of members 54A and also, of course, the

A bar 54.

Each slot 55 must, of course, be closed to prevent escape of water and this may be done by extending member 54A to completely .cover it (not shown).

At the lower side of each roller49 I provide a rotary brush 58 for removing all matter clinging to the roller by brushing it inwardly and allowing it to drop-onto a hopper 59 with a longitudinal outlet 60 (see Fig. 1).

The continuous bubble formation It will be readily understood that all solids or materials passed down from rollers 49 to hopper 59 are comparatively dry, having gone through the wringer-like action of the rollers. At this stage of the description it will also be most readily seen that the first step of my process above described constitutes a primary flotation step by the bubble or foam forming action, separation of the finer rock and foreign matter from the heavier particles, precipitation of the latter and I wringing the same through the rollers.

The second step in my process is another flotation process or action which takes place before the third and last step of my process. The said second step will now be described:

The metal particles that can be raised off the surface of the water as in the first step, of my process, are limited to a certain weight .and therefore do not include all the metal particles that will float, especially so if the water is clear when a greater percentage of metal not only floats but stays longer on the surface.

In this second step of my process the ore drops from hopper 59 onto a vibrating pan 61 suspended by an outer set of links 62 keyed on a rock shaft 63 and an inner set of verticall adjustable links 64, the pan being adj usta ly inclined inwardly and downwardly toward the center of the machine. Shaft 63 is mounted in the frame parallel to the rollers 49 and is oscillated to vibrate the entire pan in a. manner causing the ore on it to be moved toward its lower or discharge end, said latter end of the pan normally in position dippin into the water of a large container in the lower part of the machine and presently to be described. Oil and water are dropped on the pan from a suitable feed pipe 76 (Fig. 1) connected with a suitable source by a pipe 65 (Fig. 8). The vibration of the pan and the running oil and water slides with the materials on the pan to its discharge end, the oil meantime forming a film which raisesthe metal flakes to the top and the heavyore is precipitated in the water of the lower container and said flaked metal moves directly into a V-shaped trough 67 which may also be termed a chute for carrying off the oil and flakes. This flotation step is highly efficient inasmuch as the water is clear of rock matter at this point and the floating metal particles are readily recovered on the surface of the clear water in the lower container. It is evident that the coarser metals and rock particles will separate from the oil-sustained finer particles at the dischar e wardly through several inches of moving water from each pan to another reciprocating screen, the frames of said screens bein designated as 71R and 71L in F i 1 an each covered b a plate which I sliall term the precipitation plate 74. Said plates are adjustably secured one above each screen 71R and 71L and in such a manner as to vibrate with it. Each-plate is hinged at its inner edge and its other longitudinal edge is adustable vertically, by means of screws 75, to set the plate at any desired slope toward the center of the machine.

The screens 71R and 71L are reciprocated longitudinally in suitable slides (not shown) by eccentric rods and eccentrics 72 operated by a shaft 73 mounted on the frame end wall 18 (see Figs. 1 and 8). Exce t for the precipitating plate the screens 71 and? 1L are identical to screens 24 and 33. a

The upper side of each precipitation plate 74 is fluted. or grooved transversely as at 74A (Figs. 4 and 5). The vibration of the plate causes the slanting faces of the flutes to project upwardl practically all matter that falls upon it t us creating an upward impelling pressure. Correct speed of the screens and plates forces the waste matter into suspension and allows only particles that have a certain specific gravity to stay in the grooves or flutes of the plates 74. The third step of my process now being described takes'place in a large central container arranged longitudinally and comprising two opposite le ges ,68 sloping downwardly to-. \vard'the c'enter, one under each tray61the lower edge of each ledge 68 connected with a vertical wall 69 and the latter having each a centrally directed extension or bottom 70 terminating at the upper end of a central hopper-bottom 46C. This large container is similar to either of the upper containers but receives ore precipitated from the two horizontally spaced screens 71R and 71L, and the plates 74. All matter which stays in the grooves of the plates 74 will gradually move down the incline, being aided by streams of water directed inwardly and downwardly from. a pipe 78 located adjacent the higher end of the plate. Thelower half of each plate 74 is provided with a series of small holes 7413 and narrow transverse slots 74C allowing the coarser and heavier metal particles to drop upon the screen below while the rock and sand or other matter in suspension, as above described, will drop over the lower edge of the plate and into a central trough 79 arranged longitudinally between the screens 71R and 71L and from which trough all said foreign matter is removed by flushing or other suitable means (not shown).

80 are vertically arranged gate valves in the trough. 81 are two horizontally arranged water supply pipes within the lower container to discharge fresh water. and maintain any desired level of water. 470 is a central water pipe adjacent the outlet of hopper bottom 46C and has upwardly directed outlets (not shown) for emitting streams of water the same as the pipe 47 in each of the upper containers. The concentrates in hopper bottom 460 are discharged therefrom in the same manner as from the upper containers and pass betweenrollers 49C separatin the solids from the water, and dropping sai solids into any suitable container as 82 in Fig. 1. Said rollers 49C and all their adjacent co-operating parts are duplicates of the rollers and parts under each of the upper containers and said parts below the lower container are designated with corresponding numbers and a suffix C. There is also a feel regulating bar 540 adjacent the rollers 49 Fig. 8 illustrates suitable driving means and pi e lines, some of which have been already escribed.

45 is the main drive shaft having a bevel drive gear 44 which engages pinions 43, previously described, and also two opposite pinions 82R and 82L on horizontal countershafts 83R and 83L each of the latter having a bevel pinion 84 enga ing a bevel ear 85 on one shaft 50 of eac pair of rol ers 49. Each of said pair of shafts 50 carries meshing gears 86 to properl rotate the rollers. 87 are pinions each mes in with a gear 86 and on the outer end of sha 53 for rotating the rollers 52. The lower central set of rollershas a similar drive gear mechanism on a secondary countershaft 83X connected with countershaft 83L by suitable means such as a drive chain 88 driven by a sprocket 89 on shaft 83L and driving a sprocket 89A on shaft 83X. i

90 and 90A are a pair of chain'sprockets on shaft 83L driving by chains 91 and 91A respectively two small sprockets 92 and 92A rotating respectively an upper countershaft 93 and a lower one 93A, each of the latter having a bevel pinion 94 meshing with a pinion 95 mounted on the exposed outer end of each brush shaft 58.

The pans 61 are vibrated simultaneously by means of a connecting rod 96 pivotally secured to rocker arms 63A on the outer ends of the shafts 63. Said rod is reciprocated by a vertical rocker arm 97 pivoted as at 97A. The lower end of arm 97 engages the rod and the upper end is engaged in a spiral groove 98A on a collar 98 fixed on countershaft-83R and which causes the arm 97 to oscillate in a vertical plane.

99 is a feed water pipe with suitable outlets to pipes 78, 81 and 47 C in the main container.

It is necessary for a complete understanding of my process and machine to state in outline form its combination of flotation and precipitation principles. The process comprises the three steps described all taking place in one machine.

The first step.Separa'ting and recovering the li ht-metal particles, in the upper container, from the coarser rock particles and from the heavier mineral bearing particles. The finer particles are carried up to the surface and carried off in the flotation or bubble formation described. The foreign matter and rock particles are kept in suspension and finally carried away. to the waste overflow and the heavier particles precipitate in said. upper containers is passed downwardly through the rollers. o The second staph-The oil treatment of the materials passed down from the first discharge-rollers and which causes'fiotation of light values or'particles that were too heavy for flotation by the air bubbles of the first step. This takes place on the vibrating pans where the material is precipitated on the surface of the fresh water in the lower container and the said light particles are carried oil in the troughs. The remainder of the materials precipitate in the said water as described.

The third step.-The precipitation of materials in the fresh water of the large container to the precipitation plates, where the materials are further separated, the foreign matter and rocks being forced into suspension and carried away in the center trough while the values or minerals of greatest spe cific gravity are precipitated from the precipitation plates and through. the lower screens, thence through the last rollers.

I wish to emphasize the fact that my machine and the process are practical for concentration of many diflerent kinds of minerals or ores of various grades. Some grades of ore or materials handled must of course be handled or placed through my process at different rates of speed and consequently these and other conditions that may be pres- I out make it necessary that variable speeds of the main shaft are available. Also the vol-- umes of oil, compressed air, steam and water may vary greatly. Speed regulating means for the main shaft or any of the secondary or minor mechanisms, directly or indirectly effecting all the mechanisms and valves for regulating means to control the flow of water etc., may of course be installed where necessary but allthese things bein 0ld in'the mechanical field I have oniitte such regulating means to avoid unnecessary complicating of the drawings.

What I claim is:

1. A mineral concentrating process com-v 'ticles precipitate in the water; a second ste consisting" of removing the'last mentioned heavy particles from the water and treating said particles with a suitable oily flotation element and discharging said oily masas on the surface of a volume of moving. ole rwater to float the fine metal particles by theaction of the oil; and a-third step comprising pretor frame in the receptacle and normally im- 1 mersed in the water to contact with ore 'cipitatcd in the receptacle to project light particles of ore to the surface, a hopper-like bottom in the receptacle in which the'heavier ore particles settle and stratify, an elongated narrow outlet in said hopper, a contacting means for dischargin the heavy ore from said outlet while retaining the water in the 4 receptacle, ducts within the receptacle having upwardly directed apertures to project a mixrected streams of ture of oil and vapor upwardly within the water to keep the precipitating ore particles in temporary suspension; said vibrator frame comprising an elongated prismatic frame with'a series of vertically spaced layers of parallel bars of triangular form in crosssection and having two upwardl directed angular faces, ali said bars adapte to engage the ore precipitating in the receptacle to impel the ore upwardly but permitting heavier particles to precipitate between them to the bottom of the receptacle. a

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

ALFRED MOLANDER.

lUO 

